Hawai'i will make its first-ever appearance at Presley Askew Field in Las Cruces, N.M., today, where it resumes Western Athletic Conference play against New Mexico State.

Depending on the atmospheric conditions, this could be a slug-fest series. Whatever happens, the Rainbows (27-17 overall, 8-7 WAC) will act accordingly. If the weather favors the batters, pitchers might get longer leashes.

"It depends on how the game's going," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "If it's a game where both teams are scoring a bunch, then you might leave the pitcher in a little longer than we normally would. But if they're scoring and we're not, then you have to make the move. We'll go into (the game) like any other situation."

Trapasso, who was in Las Vegas recruiting yesterday, got a scouting report on the park from assistant Chad Konishi after the team's workout.

"In practice today, there was no wind and it was playing normal," Trapasso said.

The Aggies (19-24, 4-11), who just swept a two-game series against UH-Hilo in midweek non-conference play, have the second-highest batting average in the WAC at .305, and average 7.2 runs per game. But NMSU also has the worst earned run average at 7.24 (5.18 is the WAC average), and the worst fielding average (.949).

The Rainbows are in fourth, the exact middle of the WAC. They need to sweep to get into the upper half of the conference race. There are only 12 games left on Hawai'i's schedule, nine of them in the WAC. The remaining two conference series are against teams they are chasing: third-place Nevada (7-5) and first-place Fresno State (11-4). Fresno State is playing a nonconference series against Cal Poly, so other teams can pick up ground this weekend.

The Rainbows will start Mark Rodrigues (7-2, 3.25) tonight and Ian Harrington (6-5, 3.77) on Sunday. Tomorrow's starting pitcher will be determined after tonight's game, Trapasso said.

Joshua Schneider, who usually is the Saturday starter, has struggled since his shutout of San Jose State on April 1.

Unavailable for the series is relief pitcher Craig Johnson because of a medical condition that can't be revealed because of privacy issues. But he is well enough to be able to remain with the team for the series, Trapasso said.

Game times for the series is 2 p.m., Hawai'i time, today and tomorrow, and 8 a.m. on Sunday. The games will be broadcast on 1420 AM.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.